Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Activity

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord President on 4 March (HL Deb, col. 775), what help has been given to them by Mr Adams and Mr McGuiness concerning information about the organisation of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Baroness Amos: As the Prime Minister has said, the republican leadership has made real efforts to move on from the past. But the Government have also repeatedly made clear that all paramilitary activity must now come to a complete end. We have made this point consistently in the course of our discussions with all the Northern Ireland parties.

Belfast Education and Library Board

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the administration costs of the Belfast Education and Library Board for each year since 1993–94.

Baroness Amos: The figures for the eight years to 2002–03 are as follows:
	
		
			  £000's 
			 1995–96 3,983 
			 1996–97 3,872 
			 1997–98 4,150 
			 1998–99 4,024 
			 1999–2000 4,055 
			 2000–01 4,404 
			 2001–02 5,793 
			 2002–03 6,981 
		
	
	The figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £6,464,000 and £6,328,000 respectively but it is important to note that the accounting treatment of administration costs prior to 1995–96 was on a different basis and these amounts are therefore not directly comparable with those for later years.
	The increase in costs in the past two years were due in part to non-recurring costs such as redundancy payments, backdated job evaluation payments and maintenance costs. These additional costs were funded from reserves and did not impact on the amount available for distribution to school budgets, which were increased in line with departmental guidance. It is forecast that expenditure for 2003–04 will return to a level more in line with previous years.

Belfast Education and Library Board

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 31 March (WA 158) concerning the Belfast Education and Library Board, why the number of non-teaching staff of the board increased by over 16 per cent between 1998–99 and 2002–03.[HL2359]jenny

Baroness Amos: Information is readily available for Belfast Education and Library Board appointments only for the 2001–02 financial year and beyond. For the two-year period up to March 2003, the board's level of non-teaching staff increased by some 6 per cent. This was largely due to a significant increase in the numbers of nursery and classroom assistants appointed in mainstream and special schools to support teachers; to support the introduction and extension of the Making a Good Start initiative; and to provide increased support for children with statements of special education needs.

Belfast Education and Library Board

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 31 March (WA 158) concerning the Belfast Education and Library Board, why 56 per cent of the board's staff in 2003 was non-teaching.

Baroness Amos: Education and library boards employ, in addition to teaching staff, staff in a wide range of non-teaching occupations. These include many front-line posts such as classroom assistants; school cleaners and caretakers; school transport staff; and school crossing patrols as well as staff in youth clubs and libraries. An analysis of Belfast Education and Library Board staff at March 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			 Category of staff Numbers at March 2003 % 
			 Cleaning 645 8 
			 School Meals 627 7 
			 Supervisory Assistants 614 7 
			 Classroom Assistants 608 7 
			 Auxiliary staff 528 6 
			 General and nursery assistants 374 4 
			 HQ staff 313 4 
			 Library 214 3 
			 Caretaking 185 2 
			 Youth 180 2 
			 School Crossing Patrols 112 1 
			 Bus escorts 100 1 
			 Drivers 71 1 
			 Others 147 2 
			 Total non-teaching 4,718 56 
			 Total Teaching 3,741 44 
			 Grand Total 8,459 100

Northern Ireland: Railways

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 March (WA 185) concerning the railway line between Coleraine and Londonderry, whether a study will be undertaken to establish the tourist potential of the line.

Baroness Amos: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has no plans to undertake a specific study to establish the tourism potential of the railway line between Coleraine and Londonderry.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the numerical strength of the Police Service of Northern Ireland given the current level of crimes against the elderly in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: The size of the Police Service of Northern Ireland was established by the report of the Independent Commission for Policing in Northern Ireland. The Chief Constable has in turn developed a human resource strategy, which is being pursued in partnership with the Northern Ireland Policing Board. The operational deployment of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, but the numerical strength of the service will not change due to the incidence of a particular crime or crimes. However crimes against the elderly are taken seriously by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and a number of initiatives have been introduced in an attempt to impact on such crimes.

Republic of Ireland: Official Languages Act

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consultation took place with cross-border implementation bodies before the Republic of Ireland passed the Official Language Act 2003; and, if so—where the consultations took place; when they took place; with whom they took place; and whether all bodies, including the Ulster-Scots Agency, were included in the consultations.

Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government understand that the Irish Government did not consult the implementation bodies before the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003.

Republic of Ireland: Official Languages Act

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Republic of Ireland, by an Act of its Parliament, gave instructions to the implementation bodies set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998 without the approval of the North/South Ministerial Council.

Baroness Amos: The implementation bodies, established by agreement between the British and Irish Governments, carry out their functions subject to the domestic law of the two jurisdictions. That agreement does not require the approval of NSMC to the application of domestic law of the UK or Republic of Ireland to the bodies. Joantodd

Republic of Ireland: Official Languages Act

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they became aware of the Republic of Ireland's Official Languages Act 2003; what representations they have made on the Act; when any such representations were made; and to whom.

Baroness Amos: The Government became aware of the Official Languages Act 2003 following its publication by the Irish Government. No representations were made to the Irish Government.

Northern Ireland: Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current number of civil servants directly employed in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Office at Stormont; and
	Whether, in the absence of agreed devolution in Northern Ireland, it is their intention to increase or decrease the current number of civil servants in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the Northern Ireland Office.

Baroness Amos: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is a fully functioning department of the Northern Ireland Administration with a wide range of important policy responsibilities as well as a role in providing services to other departments. Many of its functions have a cross-departmental perspective. As at 1 March 2004 there were 383 staff employed on functions of the department and a further 36 staff who were employed by OFMDFM, but outposted to associated bodies.
	Following the suspension of the devolved institutions those staff who were engaged on functions directly related to the devolved arrangements such as private offices to Ministers were redeployed to other posts within the department and in other departments of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
	There are no plans to alter the size of the department at present.

Civil Service

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the proposed reduction in the numerical strength of the Civil Service will include those employed in Northern Ireland; if so, to what extent; and in which departments.

Baroness Amos: The recent announcements on reductions in Civil Service numbers arise from the Government's efficiency review in Whitehall and so do not directly affect Northern Ireland. However, the Government are pursuing a similar focus on delivering greater efficiency in the delivery of public services, with the aim of releasing resources for reallocation to front-line services. This will be a core element of the Northern Ireland priorities and budget process, which will run throughout the rest of 2004.

Irish Language Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they determined their contribution to the 2004 budget of the Irish Language Agency; what information was used; and which bodies were consulted.[HL2210]Joan

Baroness Amos: The 2004 budget calculation for the Irish Language Agency was based on approved actions in the agency's draft business plan together with associated staffing and premises costs. The sponsor departments consulted the Irish Language Agency and the finance departments in setting the budget. DCAL maintained its proportional contribution at the same level (25 per cent) as in previous years as no new factors emerged that might result in a change.

Law Officers' Advice to Government: Disclosure

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 25 March (WA 106), whether it would be open to the Butler inquiry within its terms of reference to have regard to the instruction given by the Government to the Attorney-General, and the Attorney-General's advice on the legality of the invasion of Iraq.

Baroness Amos: As has repeatedly been made clear, it is for Lord Butler to determine within the terms of reference set out by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary (Mr Straw), the conduct of the review and the scope of his report.

Northern Ireland Department of Culture,Arts and Leisure: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 25 March (WA 106) concerning funding from the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the year 2002–03, whether a business case was provided for "Rhythm in the City"; how much funding was provided; to which bodies and for what purpose; and what is the relationship of this initiative with "Rhyming Around Belfast" organised by the Belfast Education and Library Board.

Baroness Amos: Funding of £40,500 was allocated by Diversity 21 towards the cost of the cultural diversity initiatives within the Belfast International Festival of Rhythm which organised the "Rhythm in the City" event. In line with normal procedure for any group wishing to apply to Diversity 21 for funding, an application form rather than a business case was completed.
	There is no relationship between "Rhythm in the City" and "Rhyming Around Belfast". jenny

West Belfast Festival

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5 April (WA 184) concerning the West Belfast Festival, what was the date of the application to the Belfast Regeneration Office, whether it was accompanied by a business case; which body approved the application; when it was approved; and on what grounds.

Baroness Amos: The Belfast Regeneration Office received two applications (WA 184) concerning the West Belfast Festival dated 17 May 2002 and 14 August 2003. The applications were not accompanied by a business case. The Belfast Regeneration Office approved the application dated 17 May 2002 on the grounds that it contributed to the aims and objectives of the Belfast Regeneration Office strategy and criteria. In relation to the application dated 14 August 2003 a ministerial decision was made to provide shortfall funding on the grounds that there was value to be obtained from government subvention in relation to several legitimate aspects of public policy; namely tourism, arts and culture, social and community development.

China: Human Rights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will raise the issues of religious persecution and full access to China for United Nations Special Rapporteurs at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) made a speech at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights this year in which he noted the Government's serious concerns about the human rights situation in China, including freedom of religion. We believe the best way to tackle this and other human rights issues is through critical engagement. We regularly raise the issue of freedom of religion and full access by UN Special Rapporteurs with Chinese interlocutors.

African Court of Humanand People's Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will encourage member states of the African Union and its partners to facilitate the setting up and effective functioning of the African Court of Human and People's Rights; and
	Whether they will encourage the states parties to the African Charter of Human and People's Rights that have not yet ratified the protocol to the charter to do so as expeditiously as possible.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We welcome the recent entry into force of the protocol establishing the African Court of Human and People's Rights. This represents a step forward by Africa in strengthening the continental human rights framework. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, through its Human Rights Project Fund, has supported this initiative. We will continue to encourage those states which have not yet ratified the protocol to do so as speedily as possible.

European Convention on Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will extend the European Convention on Human Rights to all of the territories for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The European Convention on Human Rights has already been extended to Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands. The convention will apply to the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia with effect from 1 May 2004. In respect of Pitcairn, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 29 March 2004 (WA 127).
	There are no plans to extend the convention to the remaining Overseas Territories which do not have settled populations. Joan

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Detainees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of detainees under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001:
	(a) how many hours per day they spend locked in their cells,
	(b) how many hours per week of exercise, education and association they receive,
	(c) how these figures compare with those for convicted prisoners in the same prison; and
	(d) whether detainees may associate with other prisoners.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Detainees at Belmarsh prison are unlocked from their cells for approximately eight and a half hours per day. They have access to 15 hours of purposeful activity per week, including education and seven hours of exercise (weather permitting). The balance of time unlocked is made up of other activities such as association, visits etc. Detainees receive the same entitlements as all other persons held at Belmarsh. They may also associate with other prisoners.
	Detainees at Woodhill prison are unlocked from their cells for approximately eight hours per day. They have access to 11 hours of education per week and six and a half hours of exercise (weather permitting). The balance of time unlocked is made up of other activities such as association, visits etc. Detainess receive the same entitlements as all other persons held at Woodhill. They may also associate with other prisoners.
	All those detained under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are free to leave the country at any time.

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Privy Counsellor Review Committee

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 29 March (WA 129–130), why they rejected most of the recommendations by the Privy Council Review Committee on the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 before members of the two Houses of Parliament had debated them.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Privy Council Review Committee's report received careful consideration before the Government set out their formal response to the recommendations which they published on the day it was debated in the House of Commons. The Government have published a discussion paper considering the way forward and the recommendations of the Privy Counsellors will no doubt continue to be part of that discussion. jenny

Community Punishments

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a maximum period of community punishment to which an offender can be sentenced; if so, why there is such a maximum period; what the period is; when it was last changed; and who is responsible for setting the maximum period.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The number of hours for which a person may be required to do unpaid work on a community punishment order ranges from a minimum of 40 to a maximum of 240 hours. Section 199 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 increases the maximum number of hours to 300.

Community Punishments

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the current guidelines to magistrates on the use of community punishment in sentencing.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Judicial independence is an important facet of the court system and it is not the responsibility of the Government to issue guidelines to sentencers. Statutory responsibility for magistrates' training lies with individual magistrates' courts committees (MCCs).
	The magistrates' courts sentencing guidelines are produced by the Magistrates' Association. The guidelines are able to be downloaded from the association website (http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/) or can be obtained by application to the association's national office at 28 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6DD.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 established the Sentencing Guidelines Council, which now assumes responsibility for issuing guidelines to all courts. Guidance on the generic community sentence (into which the community punishment order will be absorbed) is an early priority for the council.

Community Punishments

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 March (HL Deb, col. 1000), whether they will clarify the cost comparisons between a 40-hour community service and a year in prison; and on what basis these comparisons were made.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The average cost of a 40-hour community punishment order is £706. This figure is derived from a costing exercise carried out last year with all probation boards and includes overheads of local board HQs and training of probation officers. This is the minimum duration of a community punishment order, and therefore the minimum cost of such an order.
	The average annual cost of custody per prisoner in 2002–03 was £36,268. Joan

Community Punishments

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Sentencing Advisory Panel has produced advice on the use of community service punishment; if so, whether they will place it in the Library of the House; and, if the panel has not produced such advice, whether it is intended that the matter will be considered by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Sentencing Advisory Panel has not produced advice on the use of community punishment. One of the first tasks of the Sentencing Guidelines Council will be to produce guidelines for all courts on the new generic community sentence, which will subsume the community punishment order.

REME Volunteers Battalions: Wheeled Recovery Vehicles

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the establishment of Foden and Scammell EKA recovery vehicles in 101 Battalion REME(V); and what was the holding on 9 March; and
	What is the establishment of Foden and Scammell EKA recovery vehicles in 102 Battalion REME(V); and what was the holding on 9 March; and
	What is the establishment of Foden and Scammell EKA recovery vehicles in 104 Battalion REME(V); and what was the holding on 9 March.

Lord Bach: Both 101 Battalion REME (Volunteers) and 102 Battalion REME (Volunteers) are established to hold 20 wheeled recovery vehicles, while 104 Battalion REME (Volunteers) is established to hold 18.
	Their curent holdings, as at 1 April 2004, are:
	
		
			 Unit Holding 
			 101 Battalion REME (Volunteers) 17 (11 Foden and 6 Scammell EKA) 
			 102 Battalion REME (Volunteers) 21 (11 Foden and 10 Scammell EKA) 
			 104 Battalion REME (Volunteers) 13 (5 Foden and 8 Scammell EKA)

Defence Information Systems

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which in-service systems are supported by the command support information systems integrated project team.

Lord Bach: The command support information systems integrated project team supports a number of systems, including:
	Royal Navy Command Support System (RNCSS)
	Fleet Information Management Unit Support Environment (FIMU)
	Royal Air Force Command and Control System (RAFCCIS)
	Pilot Direct Broadcast System (PDBS)
	Submarine Broadcast Processing System (SMBPS)
	Joint Command Systems (Logistics) (JCS(Log))
	Land Systems Reference Centre (LSRC)
	Environmental Fusion Interpretation and Distribution System (EFIDS) at the Fleet Weather and Oceanographic Centre (FWOC)
	Joint Operations Command System (JOCS)
	Lychgate
	As well as the UK element of:
	Battlefield Intelligence Collection and Exploitation System (BICES)
	OSIS Evolutionary Development (OED)
	Linked OPINTEL Centres Europe (LOCE)
	The team also supports a number of classified systems, details of which I am withholding under exemption 1, defence, security and international relations, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Defence Information Systems

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the defence information infrastructure integrated project team met its target of assuming responsibility for the majority of defence information systems by 1 April 2004.

Lord Bach: A target date of 1 April 2004 was set to conclude the transfer of the majority of defence information systems (information infrastructure) into the defence information infrastructure integrated project team (DII IPT). Although a number of factors have impinged on progress during the past 12 months, not least the situation in Iraq, this has been largely achieved.
	The remaining transfers are expected to be concluded shortly when final issues are resolved by the exporting organisations. The outstanding transfers are outside the scope of the current DII/future increment 1 migration sequence and thus are seen to have no impact on the overall implementation of the DII programme.

Defence Information Systems

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many full-time and full-time equivalent employees and contractors are currently employed by the defence information systems integrated project team; and
	What is the projected headcount of the defence information systems integrated project team for the next three financial years.

Lord Bach: The current headcount of the defence information infrastructure integrated project team (DII IPT) is some 470 full-time equivalent staff.
	It has been necessary in some cases to supplement the skills of the civilian and military staff employed in the IPT by more specific expertise from the commercial sector. In addition, therefore, there are currently eight contractors occupying established Civil Service posts within the IPT.
	The current assumption is that numbers in the IPT will remain broadly unchanged over the next three financial years. clean

Ministry of Defence: IPv6

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When all defence computer devices will be IPv6 compliant.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence is developing a strategy for the adoption of IPv6. The adoption of IPv6 is planned to be gradual, since the department has adequate IPv4 address space to meet its current needs. Since IPv6 and v4 can coexist, no specific date has been set for cessation of the IPv4 service. New projects have been directed by DEC CCII (director equipment capability command, control and information infrastructure) to procure a dual v4/v6 capability and work is in hand to identify non IPv6 compliant legacy equipment and the implications of converting to IPv6. The MoD is in the process of applying for the UK MoD IPv6 address space to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

Astute Class Submarines

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the construction time for future Astute class submarines.

Lord Bach: There are three Astute class submarines currently on order with BAe Systems. Construction time for the first of class is estimated at 95 months followed by 12 months' contractor sea trials. There are contractual incentives on BAe Systems to reduce the construction time for the second and third submarines of the class, but these times have yet to be finalised.

English Language Courses

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What monitoring takes place to ensure that English language courses provided in private schools and colleges in England maintain standards and user satisfaction, particularly among students from China.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The British Council manages and administers the English in Britain accreditation scheme, a voluntary quality assurance scheme for organisations providing English language teaching services in the UK. Membership of the scheme is open to private language schools, home tuition providers, and further and higher education institutions. The aims of the scheme are to protect international students who are studying English in the UK, including those from China. All member institutions must meet quality standards in the areas of management, resources and environment, teaching and learning, and welfare, and are inspected every four years. todd

Schools: Pedometers

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to providing free pedometers to schools as a means of raising awareness at an early age of the importance of physical activity and the energy consumption: output equation.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: No formal consideration has yet been given to the provision of free pedometers to schools. Knowledge and understanding of fitness and health is one of four key strands running through the PE national curriculum. Schools can choose to use pedometers as part of this element of their PE lessons to help to teach pupils the importance of physical activity to health and wellbeing.
	The Government have put in place a range of measures to increase the take-up of opportunities in physical education and school sport and to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity among our young people. We are keen to consider any further measures to ensure that the proportion of five to 16 year-olds receiving at least two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport is increased to at least 75 per cent by 2006. The Government are investing over £1 billion to help to deliver this.

14 to 16 Education

Baroness Maddock: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to expand the provision of 14 to 16 year-old education in further education colleges.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There is already extensive provision of vocational education for 14 to 16 year-olds in further education colleges.
	In February, the Secretary of State announced further funding for the "Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16 Year-Olds" programme in 2004–06. This will enable over 2,000 schools and about 300 colleges to continue to collaborate over the provision of high-quality vocational learning for about 90,000 pupils. In May, Ministers will be announcing details of the new young apprenticeships programme for 14 to 16 year-olds, which will involve many colleges and is scheduled to begin in September 2004.
	In the medium to long term, Ministers will take account of the recommendations of the 14 to 19 working group when deciding the most effective provision for vocational education for 14 to 16 year-olds.

Adult Learning

Baroness Maddock: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reform financial support for adults so as to encourage learning.[HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We announced in our skills strategy White Paper an increase in the financial support to help adults in further education with the costs of learning through a new adult learning grant. The grant is available on a pilot basis in 10 local learning and skills council areas and we plan to double the size of the current pilot from September by making the adult learning grant available across the south-east and north-east regions.
	Proposals for improving the package of financial support for undergraduates were announced in January at Commons Second Reading of the Higher Education Bill. This includes introduction of a non-repayable grant of up to £2,700 pa for students from poorer economic backgrounds. We are improving the package of support for part-time students, many of whom are mature. In 2004–05 students on low incomes will be able to get a grant of up to £575 for fees and a grant of up to £250 for course costs. We will continue to provide additional, targeted financial support for vulnerable students, through higher education institutions, to ensure that more of them are able to access and remain in higher education. jenny

Wind Farms

Lord Dixon-Smith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have that wind farms constructed to existing planning guidelines have no impact on human health.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government are not aware of any evidence that wind farms constructed to existing planning guidance have an impact on human health.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in accordance with its statutory duty, the Department of Trade and Industry's Corporate Law and Governance Directorate and its Companies Investigation Branch will investigate those companies and directors against whom misconduct and unscrupulous practice is alleged in operating as claims farmers and exploiting miners and widows in connection with compensation claims against the former British Coal Corporation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Where the department's Coal Liabilities Unit has first-hand evidence of wrongdoing it will make referrals to the appropriate regulator. However, in most cases it will be more appropriate for those acting on behalf of an individual directly affected to make a formal complaint.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average cost of administering and handling each claim under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, taking into account expenditure within the Department of Trade and Industry and payments to all contractors and solicitors, but excluding sums paid by way of compensation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The average cost of handling a claim over the course of 2002 and 2003 was approximately £2,700.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the option of a minimum compensation payment, funded by contractors and solicitors, was not provided for under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, thereby taking claims out of the scheme and ensuring that public funds were spent on miners and widows.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Compensation is decided following a medical assessment, which takes account of the claimant's level of disability caused by lung disease, the dust levels in the mines he was employed at and the effects of smoking and other conditions for which British Coal was not found liable.
	The claims handling agreement negotiated with the miners' solicitors' aims to calculate accurately and fairly the amount of compensation due to each claimant whether this is a relatively small amount or a considerable sum. The agreement respects the court judgment.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is the case that six years after the High Court judgment in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation over 300,000 miners and widows have yet to receive their entitlement to compensation; and what is their view of this delay.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The claims process is by necessity complex and there was delays at the beginning but with each claim being assessed individually it is inevitable that it will take some time to settle all claims. Over 555,000 claims had been received up to the cut-off date of 31 March 2004, around half of these since last September.
	The department and our contractors are doing all we can to speed up this process and as you know we have so far settled some 117,000 claims. We are on target to make 35,000 full and final offers within the first six months of 2004. It is hoped the solicitors dealing with these claims will quickly turn these offers into settlements.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Department of Trade and Industry did not take sufficient action to prevent claimants under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation failing to meet the registration deadline of 31 March 2004, despite the department's awareness that this was a risk.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The department considers that it did take appropriate action to ensure potential claimants were aware of the deadline. The department's communication strategy was agreed with Mr Justice Turner.
	The department advertised four times in the national and regional press, with extensive coverage in those areas where there are pockets of ex-miners. In addition there has been very extensive advertising and leafleting by solicitors and claims handlers in local papers. To date, only 18 claims missed the deadline. jenny

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of the claims made under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation relate to miners or widows who have died since the High Court ruling in their favour in January 1998.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The number of claimants who have died since 1 January 1998 is nearly 45,000 (out of around 300,000 deceased claims). There are no figures for widows.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there is no provision for compensation to be paid to surface workers in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, given that the issue has been outstanding for six years and the High Court scheme was closed before miners and widows knew whether or not they had the right to claim.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The medical expert's advice to the DTI is based on surface dust levels recorded by the Institute of Occupational Medicine. These were not sufficient to cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the great majority of cases. The claimants' solicitors refused to accept this position but have not mounted a successful legal challenge.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, what are (a) the total number of claims registered by the cut-off date of 31 March; and (b) the number of claims subsequently rejected or returned as having been received after the deadline.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The total number of claims fully registered before midnight on 31 March 2004 is 559,000.
	Another 51,000 partially registered claims were received, which will be accepted into the scheme upon receipt of the information they are currently missing.
	To date, 18 claims have been rejected as having been received after the deadline. jenny

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the advice given to miners and widows by the Department of Trade and Industry in 2002 and 2003, that those who missed the cut-off dates in British Coal vibration white finger litigation would be able to claim at common law, was correct.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The department is satisfied that it acted correctly in advising claimants to seek legal advice in pursuing a common law claim for VWF.

British Coal: Litigation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in connection with miners' compensation claims, the Companies Investigation Branch of the Department of Trade and Industry is taking action against (a) the Miners Welfare Agency, for allegedly posing as Miners Welfare; and (b) Zuko Legal, for allegedly posing as the Legal Rights Board.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The department does not comment on the affairs of individual companies or any possible action being undertaken.
	Companies Investigation Branch will consider any information the noble Lord has suggesting that investigations into these two companies are necessary.

Gas Oil Bowsers

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 11 February (WA 166), how many instances there have been of gas oil bowsers catching fire on the roads in the past three years.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Incidents are required to be reported to either—depending on the nature and scale of the incident—the department or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). There are no reported incidents of gas oil bowsers setting alight in the past three years.